Holder for cookware and cooking utensils

ABSTRACT

A holder for cookware and cooking utensils has a unitary, framework body having an upper section with a lid support bar and lid abutment member, and a lower section having dual S-shaped leg members. Each leg member has an open channel tapered up toward a first bend to form a notch and an open channel tapered down towards a second bend to form a second notch. The sidewall of cookware is simply and easily positioned within the upper notches of the leg members to secure the holder onto the cookware. Cookware lids and utensils are then conveniently stored, temporarily, within the lower notches of the leg members, while the holder is secured to the sidewall. The holder is manually positioned on the cookware sidewall and removed from the cookware manually by the user, without the use of any tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When one cooks on a stovetop with pans or pots, lids are most often utilized with cooking utensils, such as mixing spoons, spatulas, etc. During the cooking process, these lids are routinely removed from and replaced on the cookware, with utensils used intermittently to mix, separate, gather, flip etc. the food being prepared.

The problem of where lids which are temporarily removed from cookware and utensils which are used only periodically during the cooking process are placed is an ongoing one. Most people simply place lids and utensils which are not immediately being used on countertops, trivets, paper towels, plates, or on a variety of other surfaces. This results in sauces and food remnants being spilled onto such surfaces, creating a mess and potentially unsanitary conditions. In addition, what cook has removed a lid or put down a mixing spoon, only to be hunting around the kitchen for it a short time later when it is again needed? There are currently no devices which solve these simple, yet common problems, associated with cooking with pots and pans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware, such as pots and pans, and cooking utensils which addresses the limitations and disadvantages of cooking with cookware, and their lids and their associated cooking utensils.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a holder to be attached to cookware and which provides a means to cradle cookware lids and cooking utensils when they are not being used.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware and cooking utensils which is a lightweight product having means for stable attachment to cookware and the ability to accept and cradle cookware lids and utensils of any size and configuration during the cooking process.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware and cooking utensils which can be manually placed on and removed from the sidewalls of cookware without the use of tools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware and cooking utensils which is simple in design and economical to manufacture, and is easy to use on a wide variety of different types and sizes of cookware.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware and cooking utensils which is reusable on different types and sizes of cookware.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holder for cookware and cooking utensils which provides a convenient and sanitary place for the positioning of lids removed from cookware and cooking utensils which are not being used, and provides the user ready access to the lids and utensils when necessary during the cooking process.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a holder for cookware and cooking utensils comprising a unitary, framework body having an upper section with a lid support bar and lid abutment member, and a lower section having dual S-shaped leg members. Each leg member has an open channel tapered up toward a first bend to form a notch and an open channel tapered down towards a second bend to form a second notch. The sidewall of cookware is simply and easily positioned within the upper notches of the leg members to secure the holder onto the cookware. Cookware lids and utensils are then conveniently stored, temporarily, within the lower notches of the leg members, while the holder is secured to the sidewall. The holder is manually positioned on the cookware sidewall and removed from the cookware manually by the user, without the use of any tools.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the holder of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the holder of the present invention aligned to be positioned on the sidewall of cookware.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the holder of the present invention in place on the sidewall of cookware.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the holder of the present invention on the sidewall of cookware.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the holder of the present invention with a cookware lid stored thereon.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the holder of the present invention with a small cookware lid stored thereon.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the holder of the present invention with a cooking utensil and cookware lid stored thereon.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the holder of the present invention with a only a cooking utensil stored thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Holder 1 comprises open framework body having upper section 2 and lower section 10. Upper section 2 comprises lid support bar 4 and lid abutment member 6 located above support bar 4. Tapered recess 8 is formed within abutment member 6.

Lower section 10 of holder 1 comprises S-shaped leg members 12 and 32. Leg member 12 has open channel 14, tapered up toward first bend 16 to form notch 18. Leg member 12 also has open channel 20, tapered downward toward second bend 22 to form notch 24. Arm member 26 extends down from bend 16. Bend 16 is located above bend 22. Leg member 32 has open channel 34, tapered up toward first bend 36 to form notch 38. Leg member 32 also has open channel 40, tapered downward toward second bend 42 to form notch 44. Arm member 46 extends down from bend 36. Bend 36 is located above bend 44.

Holder 1 is easily used, in that it is designed to be manually positioned on and removed from cookware, without the use of tools or any other device.

Holder 1 is simply placed over sidewall 52 of cookware, e.g. pots and pans 50, such that the top of the sidewall fits within notches 18 and 38 of leg members 12 and 32 respectively. In this position, arm members 26 and 46 hug sidewall 52 of cookware 50. The tapered configurations of channels 14 and 34 permits holder 1 to fit on the sidewall of virtually any sized pot or pan.

With holder 1 in place on sidewall 52, food preparation using cookware 50 proceeds as usual. When pot or pan lid 54 needs to be removed from cookware 50, for mixing the cooking food or for other reasons, it is quickly and easily placed into holder 1. FIG. 5 shows glass, plastic, or otherwise transparent lid 54 placed in holder 1. To position lid 54 in holder 1, it is simply placed within notches 20 and 40 of leg members 12 and 32, such that arm members 26 and 46 overhang sidewall 52 and the lid leans against abutment member 6 in an angled position in relation to leg members 12 and 32. In this position, lid handle 56 rests within tapered recess 8. Lid 54 is thereby securely cradled within holder 1.

Again, the tapered configurations of the channels and recess allow acceptance of lids and handles of any size. FIG. 6 shows a small lid 58 cradled within holder 1.

Kitchen utensil 60, being utilized to mix, gather, separate, etc. food cooking in cookware 50, can also be easily and conveniently temporarily placed within notches 20 and 40 of leg members 12 and 32. Utensil can be so positioned with a pot lid (FIG. 7) or without a pot lid (FIG. 8).

Although holder 1 is shown and described as having a unitary open framework body, its construction should not be deemed to be so restrictive. Holder 1 can be fabricated as a solid unit, as one which partly comprises an open frame, or as any equivalent structural component.

Holder 1 thus provides a simple, effective, efficient and safe means of temporarily positioning cookware lids and utensils during the ongoing cooking process. Lids and utensils are placed within holder 1 without the mess which routinely occurs when these items, which after contain various liquid sauces, gravy, food etc., are put on countertops or other surfaces. Lids and utensils positioned in holder 1 are not only easy to locate and readily accessible, but their use with the holder provides for a more sanitary cooking environment.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A holder for cookware with an upstanding sidewall, said holder comprising: a unitary body comprising leg means at the lower end of the body for placement over the sidewall of cookware and for cradling a cookware lid and cooking utensil utilized with the cookware, and pot lid abutment means extending above the leg means for supporting a cookware lid on the holder, the unitary body being an independent device configured to be manually placed on and manually removed from the sidewall of the cookware without the use of tools.
 2. The holder as in claim 1 wherein the pot lid abutment means comprises the upper section of the body for maintaining the cookware lid in the holder in an angled position in relation to the leg means.
 3. The holder as in claim 2 wherein the leg means comprises dual leg members extending down from the pot lid abutment means.
 4. The holder as in claim 3 wherein each leg member has a first bend forming a first notch configured to be placed over the side wall of the cookware, and a second bend forming a second notch configured to cradle the cookware lid and the cooking utensil.
 5. The holder as in claim 4 wherein the first notch is located above the second notch.
 6. The holder as in claim 1 wherein the leg means comprises dual leg members extending down from the pot lid abutment means.
 7. The holder as in claim 6 wherein each leg member has a first bend forming a first notch configured to be placed over the sidewall of the cookware, and a second bend forming a second notch configured to cradle the cookware and the cooking utensil.
 8. The holder as in claim 3 wherein each leg member is substantially S-shaped in configuration.
 9. The holder as in claim 6 wherein each leg member is substantially S-shaped in configuration.
 10. The holder as in claim 1 wherein the unitary body is formed entirely as a wire framework.
 11. A holder for a cookware with an upstanding sidewall, said holder comprising: a unitary body comprising dual leg members, each leg member being substantially S-shaped in configuration and having a first bend forming a first notch and a second bend forming a second notch, and an upper section extending above the leg members, whereby the holder is maintained on the cookware by the placement of the first notch over the sidewall and whereby a cookware lid and a cooking utensil are cradled in the holder by placing the lid and utensil within the second notch.
 12. The holder as in claim 11 wherein the upper section maintains the cookware lid in the holder in an angled position in relation to the leg members.
 13. The holder as in claim 11 wherein the first notch is located above the second notch.
 14. The holder as in claim 11 wherein the body is formed entirely as a wire framework. 